Essential question: why does genocide happen main idea/message/important details how does this document answer the essential question?

Genocide is the intentional and systematic destruction of an ethnic, national, racial, or religious group, in whole or in part. It is often orchestrated by a society's leaders against a targeted group and is driven by ideology, hatred, political goals, or unfounded fear. Here are some reasons why genocide occurs:

1. Ideological Beliefs - Leaders may propagate beliefs that dehumanize a specific group of people, based on race, ethnicity, religion, or nationality. These beliefs often spread among the population, leading to widespread support for the elimination of the targeted group.

2. Conflict Over Resources - Genocide can occur when there is intense competition over limited resources. The dominant group may try to eliminate competition by destroying another group that is seen as a threat to their survival or economic power.

3. Political Goals and Power - Leaders may use genocide as a tool to strengthen their control over a nation or region by eliminating opposition and unifying their power base against a common enemy.

4. Fear and Control - In some cases, leaders promote fear among the population of the supposed threat posed by a minority group. This fear is then used to justify extreme measures, including genocide, to maintain control and order.

5. Social Engineering - Some regimes may attempt genocide as a form of social engineering, aiming to create a homogenous society that aligns with their vision, by forcibly removing those who do not fit into this vision.

To understand why a particular genocide occurred, it's important to look at the historical, social, and political context of the event. Documents such as government records, eyewitness accounts, and international reports provide evidence and context that can help answer why a specific genocide took place. These documents can detail the motivations of the perpetrators, the experiences of the victims, and the responses of the international community. They help historians and scholars identify patterns, warning signs, and the structure of power that enabled the atrocity to happen.